The Sopranos star confesses mental health struggle almost ‘destroyed’ his life, admits he made it worse with ‘seven deadly symptoms’

Joe Pantoliano, known for his roles in The Sopranos and The Matrix, has opened up about his battle with clinical depression that nearly ruined his life and marriage. The 73-year-old actor spoke about his mental health struggles at the off-Broadway opening of “Ginger Twinsies” on Thursday evening.

The actor revealed that he suffered from depression for at least 10 years before getting a proper diagnosis in 2007. During this difficult period, he turned to harmful ways of coping that only made his situation worse. His untreated mental health issues created serious problems in his personal relationships and nearly cost him his family.

According to Page Six, Pantoliano confessed that his mental health struggle almost “destroyed” his life as he dealt with what he calls his “seven deadly symptoms.” He explained that these included ‘alcohol, what was available’, women, you know, risky behavior, act first and then ask questions second.” The actor admitted he was “a mess for a long time” during this dark period of his life.

His family was ready to leave him during his darkest days

The Goonies star shared that his behavior during his struggle with depression pushed his loved ones to their breaking point. His wife, Nancy Sheppard, and his children were considering cutting ties with him completely. “My wife and my kids were ready to throw me out,” Pantoliano said during the interview.

In a touching moment, the actor revealed that his dogs played a crucial role in keeping him going when human relationships failed. “The only people who were happy to see me weren’t people. They were my dogs,” he explained. He believes his pets “saved my life because it was the only spark that was left in me.”

Pantoliano traced his mental health issues back to his childhood, which he described as dysfunctional. He mentioned that his mother also struggled with mental health problems, which may have influenced his own challenges later in life. The actor compared his lowest point to the fairy tale character Tinkerbell, saying, “I was like Tinkerbell and the light was dying.”

Since getting diagnosed with clinical depression in 2007, Pantoliano has become an advocate for mental health awareness, joining other celebrities who have spoken openly about these issues. He founded an organization called “No Kidding, Me Too!” in 2009, which works to remove the shame around mental health discussions. The actor has also written two books about his experiences with mental health issues.

Pantoliano expressed pride in how his organization has helped change conversations about mental health. “Our mission for ‘No Kidding, Me Too!’ was to make the discussion of mental disease cool and trendy,” he said. He added with enthusiasm, “And we’ve succeeded. You can’t get them to shut up now!” The actor believes that making mental health discussions more open and accepted has been a major achievement in reducing stigma around these important topics.